M'sia backs Europe against US plan to take Greenland

PARLIAMENT | Malaysia has expressed its support for the European Union against the United States' tariff threat against countries that do not back its claim on Greenland.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat this morning that Malaysia would never agree with any country conquering another.

"On the issue of Greenland, we agree with the position taken by Europe and Denmark.

"While we agree that it is the right of every country to negotiate, as an independent and sovereign state, we would never agree with the action of one country conquering another.

"So, this is our position," he said during the Minister's Question Time.

Anwar was responding to a question posed by Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (Harapan-Tebrau), who wanted the prime minister to state Malaysia's position on US' plan to expand its territory to the Arctic island and its threat to countries against having trade relations with Iran.

According to news reports, Trump last week threatened to impose tariffs on countries that do not back US' claim to control Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

Meanwhile, Anwar said Malaysia still maintains its relationship with Iran despite the US' threat to impose a 25 percent additional tariff on countries that continue trading with the West Asian nation.

"On the issue of trading with Iran, for now, we still maintain our relations with Iran. I have communicated with Iran twice, and also sent ministers to the country.

"But in this matter, as I said before, we have to be wise in managing our international relations. We should not be seen as too weak, but also at the same time, we cannot take actions that might jeopardise our country's interests.

"But so far, our relations with Iran continue, because Iran's right to defend its sovereignty is also a principle that we uphold," he said.

Sovereignty rights

Regarding concerns raised about the Malaysia-US reciprocal trade agreement, the prime minister gave his guarantee that the deal has yet to be finalised.

"Because it (the deal) gives room for feedback and there has not been a deadline for this. So it has yet to be enforced," Anwar said, in response to a question by Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik).

According to Anwar, the US trade representative has also given its guarantee that Malaysia still reserves its sovereignty rights to determine its trade policies, but Malaysia has asked for this to be put in writing.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan has denied the notion that Asean failed to address regional issues, especially when they involved disputes between member countries.

According to Mohamad, Asean under Malaysia's leadership last year managed to settle a dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

"Malaysia managed to be the facilitator because both countries wanted us. Not only because Malaysia was chairing Asean last year, but they still want us now even though we no longer hold the chair.

"The Philippines has taken over as Asean chair for 2026 but both countries (Cambodia and Thailand) still want Malaysia as facilitator," he said, in response to a question posed by Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran).

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